Variable sign



L; S. MURPHY VARIABLE SIGN Jan. 15, 1935.

Filed June 19, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 P u @5 E "W/@ J; F h mm W a 1 M J W .1 H M A Patented Jan. 15, 1935 UNITED J PS T-ATES VARIABLE SIGN Lewis S. Murphy, Marion, Ind., assignor tojChicago RailwayEquipment Company, Chicago; "111., acorporation of Illinois Application June 19,- 1933, Serial No. 676,445

11"Claims.

This invention; relates to signs and particularly to traiiic markers forindicating curves, fences, posts, bridge abutments,.railroadcrossing gates and targets, and other objects along thehighways.

important object of the invention is to provide asimple, inexpensive sign device-whichlmay be purchased and stocked by;highway;or railroad oflicials in-standard-shapes and which may be readilyassembled inthefield according to the particular object torbe marked.

Another object .of: the invention is 170;"D10llid6 asign unit'arranged'to-be assembledwith other .similarunitsin various numbers to form a variety of designs.

.These objects andothersthereafter appearing are attained substantiallyby thedevices'illustrated in the accompanying drawings ishowing signs arranged in-conspicuous designs formed 20 with units of 'more or lessstandard shapes. Each unit has a plurality'of pocketed projections forming seats for reflectingslenses, or lamps, or other visible indicating-means, and'a recess or perforation shaped tosnugly fit over a pocketedprojection of another similar unit to assemble the units together.

Figure 1 is arplan view of a. sign unit illustrating the. invention.

Figure 2'is a side view of the-same.

Figure 3 is a view of a slightly modified sign unit.

Figure 4 is a plan view of an assembled sign including the units in Figures 1 and 3.

Figure 5 is a side view of another form of unit.

Figure 6 is a plan view of a sign formed of a pair of units similar to that in Figure 5.

Figure '7 is a longitudinal section taken on the line '77 of Figure 6.

Figures 8, 10, and 11 are views of other sign arrangements.

Figure 9 is a section on the line 99 of Figure 8.

Figure 12 shows a curved sign unit, and Figure 13 diagrammatically illustrates a particular use for the novel sign in connection with railroad grade crossings.

The sign unit in Figures 1 and 2 comprises an elongated narrow body or frame part 1 with a series of hollow cylindrical projections 2 receiving reflecting lenses 3. The center of the body part is slightly enlarged at 6 and circularly recessed at 4, the recess 4 being shaped to snugly fit over any of the pocketed projections 2 of a similar unit.

The unit 1a, shownin Figure 3, is similar yto that in Figure 1 exceptfthatza central. lenstprojection .5 replaces the centralassembling recess of the former figure. Figure 4 shows the: units of Figures 1, 2 and 3 assembled in' the form offxa z. 5 cross. It will be understoodthat thezre'cess 4 may be pressed overthe pocket 1-5,':.or :otherwise secured thereto as by soldering :orotherz suitable means. Theperforated central portion .6 ofizunit 1 is. preferably slightly offset from the: remainder of the body 1 to improve the fit .and'sstrengthcof the joint. I

In'Figure 5, the sign .unit:'7 has three pocketed lens projections 8 and a' perforated assembling enlargement 9..at one end. ..'I'he?rectangular. sign in Figure 6 is formed of the unit '7 assembled; with a unitIO having'fourlens pockets .1l,='lthe end one of which is.assembled with-perforatedxzenlargement 9 of unit 7, and .a perforatedaassembling enlargement 12 at the otherend in.:whioh is mounted a cup. 13 whereby this enlargement :is adapted for; mounting. a' lens .14 similar to that inserted in the other lens pockets. As indicated in Figure '7, each 'of the lenses'litis' assembled with its lens pocket by means of a ferrule 15 of lead or similar material .insertedsaroundtthe lens and upset by a circular tool.

The novel sign device may be used with electric lights, as shown in Figures i8 and '9, instead of reflecting lenses. lIn.Figure'8,'threexsign:units i 16,17 and 18, each havingperforatedenlargements at 2 one end; are.:.assembled in the 1" form of a Y. The pocketed projections of the units, one of which is shown at 19 in Figure 9, extend rearwardly and are equipped with electric lamp sockets 20 and lenses 21. Where the sign units are assembled in angular relation at angles other than and the assembling enlargements are preferably alined with the remainder of the units instead of being ofiset as in Figure 2.

Figure 9 illustrates the manner of assembling three units at a single connection, the end projection 19 of unit 16 being inserted through the perforated ends 22 and 23 of units 17 and 18. The assembling element 1611 at the end of unit 16 may be provided with a cup, such as 13 in Figure 7, and a lamp socket.

In Figure 10, a group of units 24, similar to the units 16 and 17 in Figure 8, are assembled in the form of a diamond and applied to a roadside standard 26 having a cross beam 27.

In Figure 11, a series of sign units 28, 29 and 30 are assembled in a straight line, this form being adapted for marking a fence rail, crossing gate, or similar object extending along the road.

Figure 12 shows a curved sign unit 31 with pocketed lens projections 32 and a perforated assembling enlargement 33 at one end. It will be understood that the sign unit may have a variety of shapes and may be equipped with reflecting lenses as in Figures 1 to '7, or lamps as in Figures 8 and 9, or with other visible indicating means.

The various embodiments shown are merely for the purpose of illustrating different uses of the broad inventive features, and various details may be modified according to particular needs. The exclusive use of all such modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims is contemplated.

What is claimed is:

1. In a sign, a plurality of units each with a plurality of projecting parts forming seats for visible indicators, and a recessed part shaped to snugly interengage with any of the projecting parts of another of said units whereby said units may be assembled in various numbers and in various relations.

2. In a sign, a plurality of similar units each with a plurality of pocketed projections for seating visible indicia, and a perforation shaped to snugly receive any of the projecting parts of another of said units whereby said units may be assembled in various numbers and in a variety of designs.

3. A sign unit comprising an elongated bar having a series of bosses spaced substantially uniformly throughout its length, most of said bosses forming mountings for luminous elements but at least one of said bosses being perforated to receive a luminous element mounting boss of a similar unit to form a built up sign structure.

4. A sign unit comprising an elongated bar having a main body portion and a restricted portion ofiset from the plane of said body portion, a series of mountings for luminous units along said bar, said offset portion being perforated to receive a corresponding mounting on the body of a cooperating unit whereby the body portions of both units may lie in the same plane.

5. A sign unit comprising an elongated narrow bar with a restricted portion enlarged in width and having an opening corresponding in diameter to the normal width of the bar, a series of luminous unit mountings on said bar corresponding in outside diameter to the width of said bar any one of which may be inserted in the corresponding opening of another unit to form an assembled sign structure.

6. In a sign structure, an elongated bar having a portion offset from the plane of the remainder of the bar, and having a. plurality of luminous units disposed at intervals along its length at the side of said offset portion, another elongated bar having a plurality of luminous units disposed at intervals throughout its length one of which projects through said offset portion of the first mentioned bar.

7. In a sign, a plurality of elongated bars each having a series of luminous element mountings disposed along its length, said bars being assembled by the insertion of a mounting of one bar through an opening in the other bar whereby the referred to mounting on the first-mentioned bar forms a unit of the series of luminous element mountings on the other bar.

8. In a sign, a unit having a mounting and a visible indicator seated thereon, and another unit including a mounting for a visible indicator and a recess for cooperating with the referred to mounting on said first-mentioned unit to secure together said units independently of said first-mentioned indicator.

9. A sign unit including a body part, a lateral projection having structure for attachment of an illuminating member, and a recess shaped for snug assembly with a part of a similar sign unit corresponding to said projection to prevent separation of the units in a direction in the plane of said body part.

10. In a sign, a plurality of units having visible indicia, one of said units having a lateral projection forming a lamp socket and another unit having a recess assembled with said projection so as to prevent separation of said two units transversely of the axis of said socket.

11. In a sign, a plurality of units each including a body part, a lateral projection on one of said parts, and an illuminating member mounted on said projection, the body part of another unit having a recess snugly assembled with said projection so as to secure said two units independently of said illuminating member against separation in a direction in the plane of either of said body parts.

LEWIS S. MURPHY. 

